Hands up who feels this during National Novel Writing Month towards almost everyone or anything that stops you writing?

Even the simplest or quickest tasks aggravate us. It is time away from our words, those precious darlings we need to flow from our minds onto screen or paper. We try to disguise our exasperation but our tense muscles and quickening pulse are sure signs we are not happy. This is why we need to make preparations before November 1st.

Fill the freezer, plaster ‘I’m Writing!’ signs everywhere. Escape to the library, coffee shop or anywhere the kids can’t find you. Tell the family the laundry fairy is on strike as well as the housemaid. If they need anything they’ll have to do it themselves.

For those of us embarking on the great National Novel Writing Month, we are going to be shamefully wicked towards our nearest and dearest for thirty days. Embroiled in frantically writing at least 1667 words a day, there is no question housework and other ‘family’ orientated duties will fall by the wayside.

Tonight is our last night of freedom – well until midnight anyway! How will you spend yours?

I will be taxi driver for my daughter as she participates in her favorite celebration of the year, dressed as a Dragon Lady. This means I have the evening to set up my NaNoWriMo no-go zone. A NaNo calendar will be stuck on my desk, the story outline will take pride of place to one side of my keyboard and a large bottle of wine will be chilling in the fridge. Fuzzy socks and a comfy cardigan will await use in the early hours when the heating is low and a bowl of snacks remains unopened until hunger overcomes. Easy meals are piled up in the freezer for the family to cook.